I Am a Promise and a Possibility!

I directed a Children’s Choir many years ago, and I’ll never forget the joy of teaching them songs that not only spoke of God’s love for them but those that caused them, when they sang the words, to be speaking great affirmations over themselves. My own two children, at ages around 10 and 8, were in that choir. Not only did we sing in church, but we were invited to sing for community events. I like to think we were THAT GOOD, but more than likely, we were a novelty – adorable kids singing their little hearts out about God and His love.

One of my favorites and the crowd’s favorite was the fun, cheery and affirming children’s song, “I Am a Promise.” With that catchy tune and lyrics, we just couldn’t go wrong – especially with the cuteness of children – waving at their moms and dads, swaying and twisting and using hand gestures as they sang. "I am a promise/I am a possibility/I am a promise with a capital P/I am a great big bundle of potentiality/And I am learning to hear God’s voice/And I am trying to make the right choices/I’m a promise to be/Anything He wants me to be……./I can go anywhere that He wants me to go/I can be anything that He wants me to be/I can climb the high mountains/I can cross the wide sea/I’m a great big promise, you see!”

As those sweet kids belted out those lyrics about how they can do anything, they were feeding their little souls and spirits with words that ignited a flame inside them. I just know it. Today those kids are in their 40s and 50s. I suspect that most of those kids have kids of their own, and I also suspect that they may be teaching that song to their kids -- at least I hope, and if it's not that song, other songs and words about how they have so much potential to accomplish anything they set their hearts to.

My children, as well as many friends of mine, pray for their children’s future spouses from an early age. Is that a waste of time and effort – after all, they may be very young children? Or is it the absolute, most ROCK-solid thing to be doing -- instilling faith into our kids and guaranteeing that our children's choices will be God's choices?

It's a new school year and it is our responsibility as parents and grandparents to input potential and possibility into our children as they embark on another year of being influenced by other children, teachers, and others who catch their eyes and hearts.
Throughout life, they will encounter people who will tell our kids AND us that we can’t do things. Many folks have grown so bitter and disappointed through the years, and they have lost their hope and vision, so they want us to lose ours as well. They don’t feel like a bundle of potentiality, so they don’t want anyone else to feel like one either!

This post today is to inspire you “Don’t listen to naysayers. Listen to God. If He has called you to climb a mountain, cross a sea, teach a class, sing a song, make a speech, build a bridge, write a book, fly a plane, land a plane and even jump out of a plane -- then JUST DO IT. Make this your personal slogan: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. Be “I CAN” and “YOU CAN” do anything kind-of-parents and grandparents and friends. After all, we are all “great big bundles of potentiality”!

Christmas is for Children -- of All Ages

Oh how the memories roll like a film during this time of year when we see a Christmas program, a play, light displays, hear a song or anything that creates a “blast from the past”. That happened for me on Sunday when my two youngest grandsons were in their church’s Children’s Christmas program -- singing about the birthday of Jesus.

That took me back 40+ years ago when I directed the Children’s Christmas programs for our church. Each child was responsible for learning a little Christmas piece. A 3-year old would say something like “I may be small and not very tall, but I know Jesus came to save us all”. And an 8-year old might have said, “Christmas time again, fills our hearts with joy. Love came down to bless every girl and boy. The greatest of stories ever to be told, is Jesus born a baby, what a wonder to behold!” Then we’d sing some Christmas songs that the kids would, with gestures and hand signs, sing with so much cuteness you could hardly stand it.

My Staci was one of those, who, at about age 3, was so shy that she’d pull her skirt over her head to hide. Who knew that little shy girl, would be so “out there” today, singing and speaking to massive audiences? Oh, God did.

My son would own the stage and holler out “Hi Mom! Hi Dad!” Who knew he would grow up to be an entrepreneur and speak to audiences like he did this last Sunday? Oh, God did.

Who knew that my two children, donned in their Christmas Children’s Choir outfits in this photo, two typical siblings who aggravated each other with such pointless matters more times than I could count, would come together and create businesses that would make life better for so many? Oh, God did.

And those children that I saw last Sunday at Expression Church, so adorable, in their Sunday best, singing the words to those songs that spoke about faith for today and hope for tomorrow all because of a newborn King. Because He lives, those kids have a future and a hope – no matter whether they were on the front row because they liked the limelight, or the back row, because they prefer to be in the background. God holds their tomorrows and don’t be surprised that right in the that group of kids are doctors, lawyers, politicians, moms, dads, entrepreneurs, pastors, teachers. Who knows where they’ll end up? Oh, God does.

Our Creator and He who is a KNOW IT ALL has the master plan for those kids’ lives and yours and mine – all because He loves us all so much. How do we know that? Christmas. The Creator of ALL, Master of ALL, God of ALL became flesh and gets us…..so much so that He sees us from our beginning to our ending. Who could love us so much and want the best for us like that? Oh, God does.

I am a Promise. I am a Possibility.

I directed a Children’s Choir many years ago and I’ll never forget the joy of teaching them songs that not only spoke of God’s love for them, but those that caused them, when they sang the words, to be speaking great affirmations over themselves. My own two children, at ages 10 and 8, were in that choir. Not only did we sing in church, but we were invited to sing for community events. I like to think we were THAT GOOD, but more than likely, we were a novelty – adorable kids singing their little hearts out about God and His love.

One of my favorites, and the crowd’s favorite, was the fun, cheery children’s song, “I Am a Promise”. With that catchy tune and lyrics, we just couldn’t go wrong – especially with the cuteness of children – waving at their moms and dads, swaying and twisting and using hand gestures as they sang. "I am a promise/I am a possibility/I am a promise with a capital P/I am a great big bundle of potentiality/And I am learning to hear God’s voice/And I am trying to make the right choices/I’m a promise to be/Anything He wants me to be……./I can go anywhere that He wants me to go/I can be anything that He wants me to be/I can climb the high mountains/I can cross the wide sea/I’m a great big promise, you see!”

As those sweet kids belted out those lyrics about how they can do anything, they were feeding their little souls and spirits with words that ignited a flame inside them. I just know it. Today those kids are in their 40s and 50s and I suspect that most of those kids have kids of their own, and I also suspect that they may be teaching that song to their kids -- at least I hope, and if it's not that song, other songs and words about how they have so much potential to accomplish anything they set their hearts to.

Yesterday, my post was about a Mama praying for her 6-year old’s future spouse. Is that a waste of time and effort – after all, she’s only six? Or is it the absolute, most ROCK-solid thing to be doing -- instilling faith into our kids and guaranteeing that our children's choices will be God's choices?

Throughout life, people will tell us AND our kids that we can’t do things. Many folks have grown so bitter and disappointed through the years and they have lost their hope and vision, so they want us to lose ours as well. They don’t feel like a bundle of potentiality, so they don’t want anyone else to feel like one either! This post today is to tell you “Don’t listen to naysayers. Listen to God. If He has called you to climb a mountain, cross a sea, teach a class, sing a song, make a speech, build a bridge, write a book, fly a plane, land a plane and even jump out of a plane -- then JUST DO IT. Make this your personal slogan: “I CAN DO all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

The Lord is My Strength AND My Song

Day 173 of Photo Inspirations – God Gave the Song
This photo is of a cherished cross that my sweet niece, Cassidy Lawrence​ gave me for Mother’s Day.  It sits on the book shelf in my office. Inscribed is  “The Lord is my strength and MY SONG and has become my salvation.”  Exodus 15:2.  Indeed, the Lord is my strength and MY SONG.

Music has been a part of my life from early on.  I took piano lessons for 7 years, sang in a Children’s Choir and Adult Choir, played in the band in High School, sang and played the piano and organ as a member of the Masters IV Quartette.  Music has been central to our family's lives -- writing, recording, and singing songs.  Music is so powerful.  It heightens our emotions, calms our fears, brings light into dark places, and gives us the overflowing joy to not resist dancing, clapping or tapping to the beat.

It’s no surprise that God is called MY SONG in this scripture.  In that instance MY SONG was the name that Moses used to describe God as he celebrated the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.  Moses just HAD TO sing because his heart couldn’t contain the gratitude and awe he felt for God.  He called the Lord MY SONG.  He felt compelled to worship.  God had freed and SAVED His people through the orchestration of miracle after miracle.  How could they not respond in grateful worship?   I totally get that.

I love hearing my granddaughter sing from her toes when she is listening to music with her earphones on. She can't help herself.   We don't hear the music, but we hear her belting out a song with all out abandonment from the world around her.

Shouldn't we be belting out songs, too?  If God is our SONG, then how can we not sing?  How can we not find a song – OUR SONG, God – in both the everyday routine and in the miraculous of our lives.  I just HAVE to sing because my heart can't contain the gratitude and awe I FEEL for God.  Like Moses and the Israelites, He has been my salvation over and over again.

Bill Gather's words in "God Gives the Song" are my words, too.  "You ask me why my heart keeps singing, why I can sing when things go wrong.  Since I've found THE SOURCE of music, I just can't help it. God gave the song."  Yes, God is OUR SONG!